Airmen, Soldiers hone medical evacuation skills

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 8th Medical Group transport a simulated patient to an Army UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 17, 2017. The training allows both Airmen and Soldiers the opportunity to hone joint medical evacuation operations, also known as "dust-off" training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chelsea Sweatt)

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion brief Airmen assigned to the 8th Medical Group on emergency medical evacuation procedures at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 17, 2017. The training allows both Airmen and Soldiers the opportunity to hone joint medical evacuation operations, also known as "dust-off" training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chelsea Sweatt)

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, explain the equipment on a UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter to Airmen at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 17, 2017. The training allows both Airmen and Soldiers the opportunity to hone joint medical evacuation operations, also known as "dust-off" training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chelsea Sweatt)

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 8th Medical Group prepare to transport a simulated patient to a UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 17, 2017. The training allows both Airmen and Soldiers the opportunity to hone joint medical evacuation operations, also known as "dust-off" training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chelsea Sweatt)

Airmen assigned to the 8th Medical Group participated in joint emergency medical evacuation training with Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion from Camp Humphreys May 17, 2017.

The Soldiers assisted in the transportation of simulated patients utilizing their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to hone joint air medical evacuation operations, also known as "dust-off" training.

“The training was educational we learned how to make a 9 Line MEDEVAC request,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Siedzik, 80th Fighter Squadron medical technician. “[We] also learned how to work with the crew chief to safely get patients to the bird.”

According to Siedzik, the flight medics focused on on-board equipment, different patient configurations the helicopter is capable of and cold and hot loading, which is loading patients onto the helicopter with the rotor off for cold loading, and on for hot loading.

“This training provided everybody the chance to get exposure to the aircraft,” said Siedzik. “In the event we need to MEDEVAC a patient we are familiar with the different procedures and measures to transport a casualty safely.”